Masters Desertation Presentation 2008

FARMERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF SASAKAWA GLOBAL 2000 PROGRAMME APPROACH TO AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGY DELIVERY IN NORTHERN MALAWI BY FRANCIS WAKISA CHILENGA MPhil. Thesis Seminar

Outline Background to the study Statement of the problem Research objectives & hypotheses Justification of the study The study area Conceptual framework Research methodology Research Findings Conclusions & recommendations Future research direction

Background to the study In Malawi, agriculture accounts for about 90% of export earnings, provides 85% of total employment & contributes about 39% of the country’s GDP(FAO, 2005). For the agricultural sector to play this crucial role in the economy in a sustainable way, rapid growth in output and productivity is critical.

Background to the study/ … The sustained flow and utilization of improved technologies is key to increased growth and productivity. Small farms, low yields and unpredictable policies result in chronic food shortages. Nationally, about 40 percent of the rural households produce less food than they need.

Background to the study/ … Demand for food likely to increase since the population is still growing (population is estimated at around 13.5 million. Estimated annual growth rate of approx. 3.0 % (GoM,2006). Main agricultural technology devt and dissemination effort in Malawi 1980s & 1990s)=the Agricultural Services Project (ASP) which focused on farming systems methodologies

Background to the study/… Extension efforts were based on the Block Extension System (BES), a modified form of the Training and Visit (T&V) system Hierarchical nature of technology development and dissemination made it very difficult to create a farmer responsive system. Existing low levels of productivity and low use of modern farming practices hinder efforts to achieve progress in agriculture.

Background to the study/ … SG2000 been a prominent NGO in efforts directed at the dissemination of improved technology to smallholder farmers and the improvement of farmers’ practices in 14 Sub-Saharan African countries including Malawi . The SG2000 approach is based on the principle that ‘agricultural development cannot be achieved unless farmers have greater access to science-based agriculture

Background to the study/… Main features of the SG 2000 Approach are: Public-private partnership in agric. Services delivery, Direct farmer participation in technology transfer, and Promotion of agricultural intensification with appropriate, financially viable technology

Background to the study/… SG2000 focus was on disseminating improved maize production technologies to small scale farmers. Main activities consisted of; demonstration of on-shelf and ‘best bet’ maize production practices and conservation farming

Problem Statement Achieving sustainable food security in Malawi requires that farmers continuously adopt improved agricultural production technologies in order to realize yield potentials from decreasing land resource base. Although some programme reviews were conducted about SG2000 programme activities in Malawi, these focused specifically on SG2000 contributions to increased crop yields; the govt’s commitment to taking up SG2000 tech. transfer activities; and recommendations for improving on-going country programme activities

Problem Statement/… After nine (9) yrs of SG2000 interventions in Malawi (1998-2006) a comprehensive study to assess the effectiveness of the SG2000 programme approach to agricultural technology transfer not yet conducted Hence this proposed study which was aimed at bridging this gap. Specifically the study was set to provide answers to the following questions: what was the level of farmers’ participation in SG2000 prog. activities?

Problem Statement /… how did farmers’ perceive the effectiveness of management training plots as method for technology transfer? what are farmers’ adoption levels of the technologies disseminated to-date under the SG2000 programme? what was the level of farmers’ satisfaction with the technological package disseminated? what are the constraints preventing farmers from adopting the technological recommendations?

Objectives of the Study The main objective was to assess farmers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of SG2000 Programme Approach to agricultural technology delivery in Northern Malawi. Specific objectives of the study were to: describe the demographic and socio-economic characteristics of participating farmers in terms of sex, age, formal education, hhsize, farm labour sources, land holding size, yrs of farming experience, level of income, major crops grown in the area, access to farm credit, sources of extension services and extension teaching methods.

Objectives of the study/… examine farmers’ perceptions of their level of participation in the SG 2000 programme activities, examine farmers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the management training plot as a method for technology delivery in SG 2000 programme, examine the degree of farmers’ satisfaction with the technological package disseminated under the SG 2000 programme,

Objectives of the study/… examine farmers’ adoption levels of the technologies disseminated under SG 2000 programme identify the constraints to non-adoption of technological recommendations under the SG 2000 programme, and examine the relationships between selected farmers’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics and their perceptions of the effectiveness of the SG 2000 programme approach to agricultural technology delivery,

Hypotheses Hypothesis 1 H0: There are no significant differences in farmers’ perceptions of level of participation, effectiveness of MTP, level of satisfaction and level of adoption between Rumphi and Chitipa districts H1: There are significant differences in farmers’ perceptions of level of participation, effectiveness of MTP, level of satisfaction and level of adoption between Rumphi and Chitipa districts

Hypotheses/… Hypothesis 2 H0: There are no significant differences in perceptions of level of participation, effectiveness of MTP, level of satisfaction and level of adoption between male and female participants H1: There are significant differences in perceptions of level of participation, effectiveness of MTP, level of satisfaction and level of adoption between between male and female participants

Hypotheses/ … Hypothesis 3 H0: There is no significant relationship between farmers’ level of participation and their socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, level of income, years of farming experience, level of formal education, and access to credit. H1: Farmers’ level of participation is significantly related to their and socio-demographic characteristics such as age, gender, level of income, years of farming experience, level of formal education, and access to credit.

Hypotheses/… Hypothesis 4 H0: There is no significant relationship between level of technology adoption by farmers and their demographic and socio-economic characteristics. H1: Level of technology adoption is significantly related to farmers’ demographic and socio-economic characteristics.

Hypotheses/… Hypothesis 5 H0: There is no relationship between technology adoption and the level of farmers’ participation in the SG 2000 Programme. H1: Technology adoption is significantly related to the level of farmers’ participation in the SG 2000 Programme.

Hypotheses/… Hypothesis 6 H0: There is no significant relationship between farmers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of management training plot to technology transfer and their level of participation in the SG 2000 Programme. H1: Farmers’ perception of the effectiveness of the management training plot to technology delivery is significantly related to their level of participation in the programme.

Justification This study has documented strengths and weaknesses of SG 2000 Programme Approach to agricultural technology delivery in Northern Malawi over the past nine (9) years. By pointing out the strengths and weaknesses of the SG 2000 Programme Approach the study findings could provide guidance to SG 2000 Programme or any other related programme implemented along SG 2000 lines for enhancing the effectiveness of agricultural technology delivery.

Justification/ … Another benefit from the study could be provision of the current state of maize production technologies adoption levels by farmers. By assessing the level of adoption of maize production technologies disseminated under SG 2000 Programme and the factors influencing adoption, the study findings have provided information that could be used by policy makers, researchers and extension agents to design appropriate strategies for improving and increasing agricultural production in the country.

Literature Review Literature review covered the following areas: Meaning of agricultural extension Agricultural extension goals Agricultural extension models Agricultural extension in Malawi SG2000 Programme in Malawi (1998-2006) Extension communication methods Farmer participation in agricultural extension prog. Adoption and diffusion of innovations Adoption of maize prodn technologies in SS Africa

Figure 1: A Conceptual Framework of the SG2000 Approach Effectiveness Farmer perception of the technology Extension Method Source: Author construct Effectiveness of the approach Level of Participation (in Planning, Implementn, Monitoring & Evaluation) Farmer’s socio-economic & demographic characteristics Level of technology adoption Level of satisfaction with technology

Figure 2: Location of Study Area

Research Design A descriptive-correlational survey research design was used for this study. Objective was to describe the nature of the situation as it existed at the time of the survey. A correlational procedure was preferred to enable the researcher to determine the extent of relationship existing between variables. Also enabled the researcher to test the hypotheses about the relationships between variables as well as assess the magnitude and direction of the relationships

Sampling and Sample Size All farmers who participated in the SG2000 Programme between 1998-2006 made up the population of study. Lists of participating farmers were obtained from the respective district agriculture offices (245 and 155 for Chitipa & Rumphi respectively) 194 farmers were selected using a proportionate stratified random sampling procedure (at 95% CL sample was deemed adequate supported by Krejcie & Morgan, 1970)

Instrumentation An interview schedule was used to collect data from the selected farmers. First section captured data on socio-economic characteristics of farmers-(level of formal education, land holding size, farm labour type, level of income), and farmers’ access to credit. Second section captured data on level of farmer participation, level of technology adoption and level of farmer satisfaction with technologies.A five point Likert-type scale ranging from 5=very high to 1=very low was used to measure the perceptions .

Instrumentation/ … In addition the 2 nd section also captured data relating to farmers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of MTPs and SG2000 also using a five-point Likert-type scale ranging from 5=very effective to 1=very ineffective Third section captured data relating to respondents’ demographic characteristics (age, gender, household size) The last section captured control data such as district, village, and respondent’s code number. Both open-ended and close-ended questions were included in the instrument.

Instrumentation/… Both face validity and content validity were determined. Pilot testing was done on 20 farmers. A Cronbach-Alpha coefficient set at 0.7 was calculated to determine the reliability of the instrument. Reliability coefficients for Likert-scale data ranged from 0.704 to 0.834 implying consistency in the responses

Data Analysis Data were cleaned, coded and analysed using SPSS computer software. Data measured on likert scale were treated as interval level data. Descriptive statistics such as means, freq. distributions, SDs were used to describe the nature of the data obtained Pearson product moment correlation coefficient was computed to establish relationships between the following selected variables: level of participation, perceived effectiveness of MTPs,

Data Analysis/… level of technology adoption, age, gender, level of formal education, farm labour type, land holding size, yrs of farming experience, access to credit and To test if there were any significant differences between means across districts and gender of farmers on perceptions of farmers’ level of participation, & level of adoption of technologies) an independent sample t-test was computed.

Data Analysis/… A stepwise multiple regression analysis for variables exhibiting significant relationships was run to identify best predictors of the effectiveness of SG2000 technology transfer model. An alpha of 0.05 was set as a priori in all the analysis of test of statistical significances

Research Findings Outline Demographics & socio-econ. Characteristics of farmers Perception of level of participation Perception of effectiveness of MTP Perception of level of satisfaction with technologies disseminated Perception of level of adoption of tech. Mean differences between male & female, and across districts for selected variables Correlation matrix of selected variables Predictors of the SG2000 Approach effectiveness

Table 1: Sex of respondent farmers 100.0 194 Total 45.4 88 Female 54.6 106 Male % Frequency Sex

Table 2: Age distribution of farmers Mean=44, SD=12.7, Range=57 4.1 8 70+ 100.0 194 Total 9.8 19 60-69 18.0 35 50-59 27.8 54 40-49 28.4 55 30-39 11.9 23 20-29 % frequency Age group

Table 3 : Educ. level of farmers Source: Field data (2007) 100.0 194 Total 100.0 5.2 10 No formal education 94.8 2.1 4 Tertiary education 92.8 11.3 22 Senior secondary education. 81.4 14.9 29 J secondary education 66.5 41.8 81 Completed primary 24.7 24.7 48 Some primary schooling Cum.% % freq Level of formal education

Table 4: Household size distribution of respondents Mean=6.6, SD=2.06, Range=10 100.0 194 Total 100.0 0.5 1 12+ 99.5 18.0 35 9-11 81.4 49.5 96 6-8 32.0 30.4 59 3-5 1.5 1.5 3 2 Cum.% % freq HH size

Table 5: Distribution of farm labour sources among farmers 100.0 194 Total 12.4 24 Both family & regular 50.0 97 Both family & casual 1.5 3 Regular 2.1 4 Casual only 34.0 66 Family only % Freq. Source of labour

Table 6: Distribution of landholding size Mean=2.39, SD=0.85 100.0 194 Total 11.9 23 5.0ha or more 27.8 54 3.0-4.99 ha 47.9 93 1.0-2.99 ha 12.4 24 Less than 1ha % Freq. Landholding size (ha)

Table 7: distribution of years of farming experience Mean=20.39, SD=11.32, Range=48 100.0 3.6 7 45-54 100.0 194 Total 96.4 9.8 19 35-44 86.6 17.5 34 25-34 69.1 37.1 72 15-24 32.0 26.3 51 5-14 5.7 5.7 11 <5 Cum.% % Freq. Yrs of farming

Table 8: distribution of income levels of respondents Note: US$1.00=MK141.87 (Reserve Bank of Malawi, 2007) 100.0 194 Total 6.7 13 >MK110,000 6.2 12 MK90,000-MK109,000 12.4 24 MK70,000-MK89,000 21.6 42 MK50,000-MK69,000 22.7 44 MK30,000-MK49,000 30.4 59 <MK29,999 % Freq. Income category

Table 9: major crops grown as reported by farmers 49.0 95 Soybeans 9.3 18 Sunflower 13.9 27 Millet 72.7 141 Cassava 11.3 22 Paprika 85.6 166 S/potatoes 64.9 126 Tobacco 70.6 137 P. Beans 92.8 180 G/nuts 100.0 194 Maize % Freq. Crop

Table 10: Utilisation of major crops grown Source: Field data (2007) Soybeans Sunflower Millet Cassava Paprika S/potatoes Tobacco P. Beans G/nuts Maize Crop 42.3 2.6 5.7 6.7 - 2.1 10.3 0.5 2.6 46.9 1.0 24.7 - 11.3 - 26.3 - 59.3 - 64.9 - 18.6 0.5 51.5 58.2 - 35.1 90.2 - 9.8 Both cash & home consumption (%) Cash (%) Home consumption (%)

Table 11: Respondent-farmers’ accessing farm credit Credit sources: Formal banks=1.5% Money lenders (informal)=1.0% NGOs=74.7 % 100 194 Total 24.7 48 No 75.3 146 Yes Percent (%) frequency Response

Table 12: Sources of agric. extension services 3.6 7 Farmer-based organisations 43.3 84 NGO extension staff 32.5 63 Fellow farmers 100 194 Government extension staff Percent (%) Frequency Source

Table 13: Extension teaching methods as experienced by respondent-farmers Source: Field data (2007) 88.7 172 Field days 42.3 83 Group discussions 2.6 5 Farm magazines 20.6 40 Posters 23.2 45 Leaflets 24.7 48 Radio 19.1 37 Farm exhibits 94.8 184 Method demonstration 50.0 97 Results demonstration % Freq. Extension method

Table 14: Farmers’ perceptions of their level of participation in SG 2000 Prog . Overall mean=3.83, SD=0.84, Range=1.43 0.91 4.09 Joint evaluation 0.71 4.12 Joint monitoring 1.44 3.07 Organising farmers meetings 1.45 3.62 Group discussions 2.59 3.53 Organising field days 0.95 4.06 Attendance of meetings 0.72 4.50 Participation in planning project activities SD Mean Items

Table 15: Farmers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of the MTP . Overall mean=4.69, SD=0.47, Range=0.18 0.58 4.63 Generate active farmer participation 0.55 4.69 Enhance farmers, interest in the demonstrated technologies 0.46 4.81 Able to obtain high yields 0.60 4.64 Provide technical information on maize production SD Mean Items

Table 16: Farmers’ level of satisfaction with the technologies disseminated Overall mean=4.56, SD=0.43, Range=0.7 0.44 4.75 Satisfaction with use of inorganic fertilizers 1.00 4.05 Satisfaction with use of herbicides/conservation farming 0.59 4.51 Satisfaction with fertilizer application method 0.51 4.74 Satisfaction with use improved varieties 0.53 4.74 Satisfaction with row spacing (75cm) 0.53 4.59 Satisfaction with plant spacing (25cm) SD Mean Items

Conservation farming in practice

Table 17: Farmers’ level of adoption of the technologies disseminated Overall mean=4.26, SD=0.45, Range=0.87 Adoption of use of herbicides/conservation farming Adoption of fertilizer application method Adoption of use of inorganic fertilizers Adoption of use improved varieties Adoption of row spacing (75cm) Adoption of plant spacing (25cm) Items 3.61 4.23 4.48 4.47 4.47 4.30 Mean 0.95 0.58 0.55 0.58 0.58 0.55 SD

Table 18: Constraints to technology adoption 2.6 5 Resistant to pests & diseases 1.5 3 Improved varieties not drought tolerant 0.5 1 Inadequate mkt facilities to absorb farm produce 43.8 85 High costs of seed Improved varieties 0.5 1 Intercropping potential ltd 46.9 91 High labour demand Row spacing 1.0 2 Intercropping potential ltd 64.4 125 High labour demand Plant spacing % Freq. Constraint Technology

Table 19: Constraints to technology adoption/… 27.8 54 High carry-over of pests and diseases 0.5 1 High infestation of termites 52.6 102 High costs of herbicides 10.3 20 High labour requirement in terms of spraying & residue incorporation Use of herbicides 69.6 135 High labour demand Fert. application method 49.5 96 High costs of fertiliser Use of inorganic fert. % Freq. constraint Technology

Table 20: An independent sample t-test analysis by sampled district P<0.05 .000 9.687 0.23 0.44 4.59 4.05 75 119 Rumphi Chitipa Level of adoption of the technologies .230 1.205 0.23 0.51 4.61 4.53 75 119 Rumphi Chitipa Level of satisfaction with the technologies .035 2.124 0.38 0.51 4.78 4.64 75 119 Rumphi Chitipa MTP effectiveness .000 16.932 0.48 0.55 4.65 3.32 75 119 Rumphi Chitipa Level of participation in the programme Sig. t (2-tailed) SD mean n district Sub-score

Table 21: an independent sample t-test analysis by sex of respondents P<0.05 Sig. t (2-tailed) SD mean n sex Sub-score .268 -1.110 0.48 0.43 4.22 4.29 88 106 F M Level of adoption of the technologies .002 -3.101 0.48 0.35 4.46 4.65 88 106 F M Level of satisfaction with the technologies .000 -3.842 0.54 0.36 4.55 4.81 88 106 F M MTP effectiveness .764 -0.301 0.73 0.92 3.81 3.85 88 106 F M Level of participation in the programme

Table 22: Summary of results of a step wise regression analysis .005 7.914 .033 .136 .145 0.094 Access to farm credit .000 23.517 .031 .104 .109 -0.135 Perception of MTP effectiveness .000 .157 1.555 Constant Sig. F Change Std error Adj. R-square R-square Beta Predictors

Major conclusions A majority of the respondent-farmers are still young (mean age=44 years) and by implication have the ability to carry out farming activities. At the time of the survey, a majority of farmers were found to cultivate a small amount of their own land (landholdings of 1-2.99 hectares) with mean land holding size of 2.39 hectares. A majority of farmers identified group contact extension methods as most popular extension teaching methods used by extension workers in their area

Major conclusions/… The SG 2000 Programme Approach attracted a higher level of farmer participation particularly in such areas as planning, monitoring and evaluation of project activities The management training plot which was probably the principal extension teaching method was rated as being very effective in provision of maize production knowledge, yield improvements, stimulating farmer interest in the disseminated technologies and eliciting active farmer participation.

Major conclusions/… Gender was found to have a significant influence on farmers’ perception of the management training plot and their level of satisfaction with technologies. Level of farmer participation in the SG 2000 Programme was found to have a strong and significant relationship with level of adoption of technologies disseminate The management training plot and access to farm credit were the only factors found to explain the effectiveness of the SG 2000 Programme Approach.

Recommendations To address the problem of shrinking land holdings among smallholder farmers in the longer-term, the GoM should ensure security of tenure and distribute land to the landless or near landless. Ensuring security of tenure will help in developing the land market, which may have implications of increased agricultural productivity such as facilitating access to financial or physical capital.

Recommendations/… MoAFS through the Department of Extension Services should promote appropriate extension teaching methods such as group contact methods to pass across technologies given the nature of the technology to disseminate. The management training plot (MTP) as a method of agricultural technology delivery should be promoted and mainstreamed into public extension programmes to enhance farmer acquisition of knowledge and skills in new technologies.

Recommendations/… MoAFS should promote farmer participation in planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of different agricultural extension programme activities for sustained adoption of technologies. To be achieved through institutionalization of participatory extension approaches for increased farmer participation.

Recommendations/… The significant differences between men and women in their perceptions of the MTP and level of satisfaction with the technologies is an indication that there are gender differences in farming systems. To address this, project planners (both MoAFS & NGOs) should identify goals, decision criteria & the context of the decisions for women before project implementation.

Future Research Direction A similar study comparing views from all key stakeholders namely, SG2000 Prog Officials, Agric. Ext. staff of MoAFS, farm input dealers and farmers would greatly contribute to the available literature on effectiveness of extension approaches. There is need for a study on the effectiveness of government/NGO collaboration in the delivery of extension services. It is also essential that expenditures in extension should be followed by rigorous efforts to measure the economic impact on farmers. A study to assess the economic impact of the SG 2000 Prog. would be of great significance.

The End and Thank you for your attention!!!

Masters Desertation Presentation 2008

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Masters Desertation Presentation 2008